The Bosque Museum is dedicated to protect and preserve Bosque County's historic and prehistoric resources for the use, education, enjoyment and economic benefit of present and future Bosque Citizens.
The museum's current collection grew out of the early collection of Jacob Olson, an early immigrant to Bosque County. Mr. Olson collected the important artifacts of that time and saved them for his own enjoyment. In 1924 he gave his collection to Clifton Lutheran College with the proviso they be housed in a fireproof building and should never leave Bosque County. When the college merged with Texas Lutheran College in 1953, a new home had to be found for the collection.
A local non-profit
corporation was formed in 1954, monies were collected and donated and a new building was opened in 1957 on land
donated by the former Clifton College Corporation. Since that time three
additions have been made to the building increasing the total display
space to 8,000 square feet. An important recognition of the museum
occurred on October 22, 1982 when King Olaf V of Norway visited the museum
to view the Cleng Pearson artifacts.
A log cabin, Jacob Olson's childhood home, was moved to the museum ground in 1985 and received a Texas Historical Marker the following year.
Significant collections include:
Indian Collection — Large Collection of Indian Artifacts collected in Bosque County dating back to 10,000 years ago and down through the Archiac and Historic Period. Has major exhibit about the Paleo-Americans found in the Horn Shelter in Bosque County.
Firearm Collection — Collection include 150 long guns and hand guns dating from 1750's to the modern era. Major exhibit contains firearms from every conflict in which the United States fought from 1776 through WW II.
Norwegian Collection — Recognized as the largest repository of Norwegian artifacts in the South and Southwest. Many items are associated with the Norse Community in Bosque County. King Olaf V of Norway visited the Museum in 1982 to see this collection and the chair crafted by the early Norwegian Pioneer, Cleng Peerson.
Norwegian Book Collection — Large Collection of Norwegian Language Books brought from Norway by the Norwegian Immigrants to Texas. Most of these books were used in an early lending library in the Norse Community. Earliest book dates to 1735.
Texas Primitive Furniture — Examples of early Texas furniture made in Bosque County. Miss Ima Hogg has included three pieces in her book on Texas Pioneer Furniture.
Photographic Archive — Early photographs and images of the first immigrants, their homes and everyday life in Bosque County.
Textile Collection — Dresses, Christening Gowns, quilts, weavings, needlework dating back to the 1850's. Large collection of spinning wheels and looms.
Early Education Collection — Collection of photographs, books, documents and other material from the early schools and colleges in Bosque County.
Early Medical Collection — Collection of artifacts, medical equipment and documents used by the first physicians in Bosque County.